Bilateral clamping spacer

ABSTRACT

A spinal implant for stabilizing two adjacent vertebrae having a damaged disc therebetween is assembled in situ. The implant consists of a bone tray, an anchor, a retainer plate, a retainer, and mounting screws. The bone tray bone tray is elliptical shaped and includes an open top side and an open bottom side, the top side and the bottom side adapted to engage the end plates of adjacent vertebrae, respectively, the bone tray having a sidewall connecting the top side and the bottom side, the sidewall having an bore therethrough. The retainer is slidably extending through the bore whereby the distractor anchor is adapted to be inserted between adjacent vertebrae and the retainer extends through the retainer plate. The retainer plate is secured to the vertebrae body by mounting screws. A driver, not shown, is adapted to rotate the retainer which engages the distractor anchor to engage the bone tray.

PRIORITY CLAIM

In accordance with 37 C.F.R. 1.76, a claim of priority is included in an Application Data Sheet filed concurrently herewith. Accordingly, the present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/953,621, entitled “BILATERAL CLAMPING SPACER”, filed Mar. 14, 2014. The contents of the above referenced application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of orthopedic surgery and to spinal implants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The spinal disc is the natural shock absorber located between all vertebrae. In the event it becomes traumatized through injury or degenerates through age or disease, the intervertebral space is reduced through compression and the relative movement of adjacent vertebrae causes pain. The surgical approach to this problem is to relieve the compression, stabilize the adjacent vertebrae and provide for a natural fusing of the vertebrae into one unit.

There are many spinal implants used to stabilize two adjacent vertebrae to prevent relative movement until the vertebrae are fused together by boney ingrowth through and around the implant. Generally these implants are in three groups, i.e., bone plates, pedicle screw/rod constructs and spinal cages. The bone plates span the intervertebral space and are affixed to the two adjacent vertebrae anteriorly by bone screws. Pedicle screw/rod constructs span the vertebral bodies posteriorly and are often connected with cross-links.

The spinal cages are inserted between the adjacent vertebrae and are usually seated into to the end plates of the adjacent vertebrae. To gain access to the intervertebral space, a site is prepared by removing a portion or all of the spinal disc. A wedge shaped distractor is inserted into the site to gradually separate the adjacent vertebrae until the desired intervertebral space is achieved and cut into the end plates of the adjacent vertebrae. Once the site is prepared, the distractor is removed and the spinal implant is inserted into the disc space. The spinal implant may be packed with bone growth material, bone chips, a combination of both, or other material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed is a spinal implant for fusing adjacent vertebrae. The implant consist of a bone tray, an anchor, a retainer plate, a retainer, and mounting screws. The bone tray bone tray is elliptical shaped and includes an open top side and an open bottom side, the top side and the bottom side adapted to engage the end plates of adjacent vertebrae, respectively, the bone tray having a sidewall connecting the top side and the bottom side, the sidewall having an bore therethrough. The retainer is slidably extending through the bore whereby the distractor anchor is adapted to be inserted between adjacent vertebrae and the retainer extends through the retainer plate. The retainer plate is secured to the vertebrae body by mounting screws. A driver, not shown, is adapted to rotate the retainer which engages the distractor anchor to engage the bone tray. The bone tray is adapted to slide and contact the distractor anchor.

Therefore, it is an objective of this invention to provide a spinal implant to be assembled in situ.

It is another objective of this invention to provide an implantable distractor for site preparation and establishment of proper intervertebral space.

It is a still further objective of this invention to provide a retainer to attach the distractor and the bone tray together.

Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the implant;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the implant mounted in the spine;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the implant;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the implant;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the anchor;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the anchor;

FIG. 7 is a enlarged view of an engagement tab of the anchor;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the implant;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the implant;

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the anchor;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the anchor;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the anchor;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the anchor;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the implant;

FIG. 15 is a perspective of the endplate; and

FIG. 16 is a pictorial view of the implant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, disclosed is a spinal implant for fusing adjacent vertebrae. The implant consist of a bone tray 10, a distractor anchor 12, retainer plate 14, retainer 16, and mounting screws 18. The bone tray 12 bone tray includes an open top side and an open bottom side, the top side and the bottom side adapted to engage the end plates of adjacent vertebrae, respectively, the bone tray having a sidewall connecting the top side and the bottom side, the sidewall having an bore therethrough. The retainer 16 is slidably extending through the bore whereby the distractor anchor is adapted to be inserted between adjacent vertebrae and the retainer extends through the retainer plate 14. The retainer plate 14 is secured to the vertebrae body by mounting screws 18. A driver, not shown, is adapted to rotate the retainer 16 which engages the distractor anchor 12 to engage the bone tray 10. The bone tray is adapted to slide and contact the distractor anchor 12.

FIG. 2 depicts the spinal implant of the instant invention with a modified retainer plate 20, all other aspects of the implant remain the same. FIG. 3 depicts the spinal implant having a distractor anchor 12 placed along a first end and a second anchor placed at a second end. FIGS. 4-7 depicts the spinal implant having a distractor anchor 12 placed along a first end and a second anchor 24 placed at a second end. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the implant. FIG. 9-13 are views of an alternative embodiment of the implant. FIG. 14-16 are views of an alternative embodiment of the implant.

The bone tray 11 is of a different configuration wherein the retainer 16 is not encapsulated. FIGS. 14-16 depict the spinal implant with an anchor body on a first end and a anchor body with offset screw mounts on a second end.

The bone tray 10 has an elliptical outline or other shape formed by a continuous sidewall which defines a hollow interior. The hollow interior may be filled with bone growth or other material. The hollow interior provides a pathway for boney ingrowth between the adjacent vertebrae. The simplified implant reduces the number of instruments necessary to prepare the implant site by permanently incorporating the anchor into a cage.

All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. The product comprising any feature described, either individually or in combination with any feature, in any configuration.
 2. A procedure comprising any product described in any order, using any modality either individually or in any combination, with any modality or any feature described. 